NOTE: FAITHWRITERS FORUM is for members of FaithWriters main site only and requires a separate registration below. Learn about FaithWriters membership options and all of our tools to help writers HERE. SUPPORT OUR MISSION to grow Christian writers and spread the gospel worldwide online HERE.

There's absolutely nothing to do to join up--because it's not a 'class' in the usual sense of the word. It's just a topic a week (usually a literary term or device), with a brief explanation and examples from me, and then discussion and more examples from anyone on the boards who cares to submit.

I ran the classes for about a year, during which time the message boards melted down and about half of them disappeared forever. However, you can still access the more recent threads, and you can still input your own thoughts and/or examples.

I plan to start up again in the fall, with a slightly different focus (I haven't quite decided what that will be, yet). I hope you'll jump right in at that point! In the meantime, feel free to check out some of last year's sessions to see what they're like.

Hi Jan,
I've been reading your past lessons and have found them very helpful. Can I make a suggestion for the future? My fiction is still very amateurish and I am learning so much about how to improve it from critiques. But one thing I would like to learn more about is how to describe action. I know "show don't tell," but I think I need more specifics about that and other tips about it. How do I tell what's happening without saying "she did this. Then she did this. Then this happened."
Thanks, Phee

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Philippians 4:8 NLT

Phee, thanks for this idea! I definitely plan to start up another class this fall--after the conference, and after my granddaughter is born. I haven't deflinitely decided what the focus of the class will be, but I'm definitely open to suggestions.

In the meantime, I'd suggest a quick Google search using the phrase "show don't tell". You'll get lots of hits, and some of them have excellent instruction.

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Philippians 4:8 NLT